•FG blames climate change, unregulated buildings
THE Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs in Niger State, Ahmad Suleiman, said on Tuesday that more than 200 corpses of victims have been recovered after devastating floods hit the Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
“We have more than 200 casualties or corpses but we are still looking for more,” the commissioner said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show. “We are still recovering corpses up till now.
“Nobody can tell you the number of casualties in Niger State right now because up till now, we are still looking for some corpses.”
Suleiman said the Umar Bago administration in the north-central state has activated an emergency response and directed the distribution of relief materials to the displaced victims of the floods, who are housed in makeshift camps.
“The Niger State Government has put things in place and there are lots of contributions from various agencies and ministries. The damage on ground now, you cannot get it on social media except a visit to the scenes. There is a lot of damage at the moment.
“The state government has sent trailers of rice to the victims. The wife of the governor also visited the local government yesterday and donated N50m,” he said.
Meanwhile, victims at makeshift camps continued to voice deep dissatisfaction over the handling of relief efforts.
A visit to the affected communities by our correspondent revealed the frustration and disappointment of flood victims, especially over the lack of adequate food supplies and poor camp conditions.
Many displaced residents lamented that although they were photographed with food items by authorities and relief personnel, they were not given the supplies.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has refuted claims that the recent devastating flood was caused by the release or failure of water from nearby dams, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, said both the Kainji and Jebba dams remain structurally sound and fully operational.
”It is important to clarify that the flooding in Mokwa was not the result of any water release from the Kainji or Jebba dams.
”Both facilities are intact and pose no risk to surrounding communities,” the minister stated.
Utsev expressed the Federal Government’s sympathy to the Government and people of Niger, especially the communities affected by the disaster, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday.
He commended the swift response of the state government, local authorities, and first responders for providing relief to victims.
According to the minister, the flooding was largely due to heavy rainfall associated with extreme weather conditions driven by climate change, which overwhelmed the town’s drainage infrastructure.
He explained that unregulated building activities and encroachments blocked a seasonal tributary of River Dingi, which normally remained dry except during periods of heavy rainfall.
According to him, the absence of efficient alternative drainage channels worsened the situation.
The minister also recalled that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), under the ministry, had warned of potential flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area as part of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released on April 10.
He reiterated earlier warnings, urging state and local governments to improve drainage, relocate at-risk communities, raise public awareness, and enforce land-use laws.
He also encouraged stakeholders to consult NIHSA’s online flood forecast dashboard for detailed, location-specific risk information to aid proactive planning and disaster mitigation.
Utsev described the Mokwa flood as a stark reminder of the increasing impact of climate change, which continues to manifest in more frequent and intense weather events nationwide.
He added that technical personnel from the ministry, NIHSA, the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) were already on site in Mokwa conducting a thorough assessment to guide future interventions.
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